“Men have no idea of time in any country that is or has been connected with Spain.”

                  - From The West Indies and the Spanish Main by English Novelist Anthony Trollope

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Spain

Inhabited first by cave dwellers, Spain was fodder for most of the great ocean-going powers in the early part of its history. First the Phoenicians, then the Greeks, and finally the Carthaginians conquered Spain before the Romans came. They built cities and brought unity to the country. Germanic tribes replaced Roman control, ruling Spain from Toledo until the early 8th century, by which time Spain had embraced Catholicism.

Spain’s history has been closely tied to northern Africa. The 800 years of occupation by the Moors left an indelible mark on the Spanish culture. Regional differences are reflected in the Spanish people, their looks, their character, their attitudes, and above all, their cuisine. Regionalism is still strong in Spain. It has its base in the country’s linguistic groups: Galician, spoken in the northwest; Basque, another northern language; Castilian, or pure, central Spanish; and Catalan, based in the northeast, with Valencian a variation of this. These different languages are still spoken every day.

For visitors the three great cities are Madrid, Barcelona and Seville. Andalucia, with the architectural treasures of Granada and Cordoba, is rich in Moorish history. The traits of Andalucia, distinctly its own, are often taken as characteristic of all Spain. Here the Spanish raise their fiercest bulls and train their outstanding matadors. Flamenco performers, dressed in ruffles and with clicking castanets, dance to the music of the guitar. Whitewashed villages dot the countryside, and vineyards and olive groves thrive.

Staying in the historic paradors is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The combination of excellent regional cuisine, local wines and sherry, architectural marvels, vibrant folk customs, visits to the Canary and Balearic Islands, can all be combined with a spa experience…a dynamite combination!

HIGHLIGHTS OF SPAIN
Escorted Tour

• Guided City Tours
• Professional Tour Director
• Guided Tour of Prado Museum
• Guided Tour of Alhambra Palace and Gardens
• White walled cottages of Peniscola
• Tomb of Christopher Columbus in Seville Cathedral
• Two night stays in the major cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Seville
• Guided visit to the magnificent Mezquita
• Many other extras

SPANISH WATERWAYS ON THE MS BELLE DE CADIX
From Seville to the Algarve

• Accommodations - 7 nights in outside cabins aboard the first class MS Belle de Cadix
• Meals - Daily breakfast, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
• Services of professional local guides and cruise directors
• Enjoy a guided tour of Seville including the Cathedral and the Alcazar Palace
• Learn the rich history of the famous Rock of Gibraltar on a full-day excursion
• Visit the Algarve, a Portuguese province known for its fabulous coastline and ever-blooming flora
• Sail up Portugal's Guadiana River to Alcoutim, a pretty village with whitewashed houses edged in yellow and blue
• Enjoy a Spanish flamenco dinner onboard the ship
• Taste some of Jerez's world-famous sherry on a visit to a local distillery

Spain Sampler

• Accommodations - 5 nights in outside cabins aboard the first class MS Belle de Cadiz
• Meals - Daily breakfast, 4 lunches and 5 dinners
• Services of professional local guides and cruise directors
• Enjoy a guided tour of Seville including the Cathedral and the Alcazar Palace
• Join your cruise hosts for a walk through Cadiz by night
• Take an excursion to Donana Park, classified by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve
• Enjoy a Spanish flamenco dinner onboard the ship
• Taste some of Jerez's world-famous sherry on a visit to a local distillery